British Tennis Star Receives Death Threats After Return to Court

Jodie Burrage, a British tennis player, found herself at the center of a storm of online abuse and death threats following her return to the court after a 16-month absence. The incident highlights the ongoing problem of social media hostility faced by female athletes, particularly in the world of tennis.

Burrage, who was competing in her first main-draw singles match on the WTA Tour since September 2022, faced a tough challenge at the Chennai Open. She lost to India’s Vaishnavi Adkar in a closely contested match with a final score of 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. The match, which lasted two hours and 47 minutes, saw Burrage experiencing physical discomfort, prompting medical checks on her blood pressure and oxygen levels.

The British athlete’s return to competition was marred by a barrage of negative messages and death threats on social media. This comes amid reports that over 12,000 abusive posts and messages were directed at female tennis players on social media in the previous year. The WTA’s player board has described such abuse as 'unacceptable', noting its significant impact on the lives of the players.

Katie Boulter, another British tennis player, also reported receiving death threats, indicating that this issue is not isolated to one individual. In a report from two years ago, angry gamblers were said to be responsible for 48% of abusive posts, although this figure is now disputed. More recently, a report indicated that 458 players were direct targets of abuse in 2024, with 40% of social media abuse originating from frustrated gamblers. The WTA and ITF reported that 77% of direct abuse came from gamblers targeting players’ personal accounts.

The WTA has taken steps to address this issue, securing the removal of 66% of serious abusive posts or comments and escalating 35 accounts to law enforcement. These actions demonstrate the organisation’s commitment to protecting its players from the harmful effects of social media abuse.

In summary, Jodie Burrage’s experience at the Chennai Open underscores the challenges faced by female tennis players in navigating both on-court competition and off-court hostility. Her return to play after 16 months was marked by a significant victory for her opponent, Vaishnavi Adkar, and a notable setback in the form of online abuse and death threats.

What we know

• Jodie Burrage received death threats and abuse on social media after her match at the Chennai Open. ¹²³
• Jodie Burrage lost her match to Vaishnavi Adkar with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. ¹²³
• Vaishnavi Adkar won the match against Jodie Burrage. ¹²³
• Katie Boulter reported receiving death threats. ¹³
• Over 12,000 abusive posts and messages were directed at female tennis players on social media in the previous year. ¹
• WTA secured the removal of 66% of serious abusive posts or comments and escalated 35 accounts to law enforcement. ²
• Jodie Burrage experienced physical discomfort during the match and had her blood pressure and oxygen levels checked. ³
• 458 players were direct targets of abuse in 2024, with 40% of social media abuse coming from frustrated gamblers. ³
• 77% of direct abuse was from gamblers targeting players' personal accounts. ³
• The match took place at the Chennai Open on a Tuesday. ²
• The match lasted two hours and 47 minutes. ³
• Jodie Burrage's highest career ranking was 85 in September 2023. ³